Experience

Self Help Africa

• Ireland
• Non-profit Organizations
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Project Manager

  • Jan 2021 - Present

  Providing leadership, guidance, and overall direction on the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the EU funded KULIMA BETTER project that enhances extension efforts in Malawi through use of the Farmer Field School (FFS) Approach to increase food, nutrition and income security of 402 000 farming households in Malawi. The objective of the project is Sustainable agricultural growth promoted to increase incomes, employment, food, and nutrition security in Malawi in the context of a changing climate Show less



ADRA Serbia - Adventist Development and Relief Agency

• Serbia
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Project Manager

  • May 2018 - Jun 2022



Mott MacDonald

• Malawi, Africa

• Agribusiness Specialist

  • Apr 2017 - Jun 2022

  I was, up to January 2018, working with Mott Macdonald, Implementation Service Provider for Catchment Management in the Shire River Basin under the Shire River Basin Management Programme Phase I project. Mott MacDonald, together with consortium partners Centre for Development Management (CDM) based in Malawi and LTS of the UK, has been appointed on the first phase of the Shire River Basin Management Programme by Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development. The World Bank financed project is being implemented to improve land and water management and protect and enhance the Shire River ecosystem, while providing livelihood benefits in target areas. The aim of the programme is to increase sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits of the basin by effectively and collaboratively planning, developing and managing its natural resources. Responsibilities: Supporting Alternative Rural Livelihoods through development of demand and market driven income generating activities, with special targeting of women, youth and landless groups, to gradually decrease dependency on low performance agriculture and unsustainable harvesting of forest products as sources of income. This include the following: o Area-specific market demand and value chain transaction support studies; agricultural fairs aimed at identification of and linkages with markets; o Facilitating establishment of linkages with private sector service providers and buyers for accessing new farm and non-farm enterprise opportunities and in the negotiation of market contracts and MOUs with selected private sector partners. Assist in the facilitation of linkages with local agencies for accessing new non-farm enterprises opportunities in catchment management areas. Sold 100 MT of red sorghum of smallholder farmers from the catchments to Chibuku Products Limited. Show less



NCBA CLUSA

• Blantyre, Malawi

• Agribusiness and Commodity Markets Specialist

  • Aug 2015 - Mar 2017

  Leading the value chain Selection process using the already designed set of criteria according to the project objectives. Supervising value chain assessments including designing scopes of work (project briefs) for consultants who may be required to carry out certain activities. Design activities that increase smallholder agricultural production and market linkages that lead to increased profitability of on-farm enterprises. This includes the development and implementation of upgrading plans in targeted value chains with a focus on improving smallholder crop and livestock productivity and net revenues. Work with the technical team to identify existing institutions and organizations that have a good understanding of the local business and political context and who could be partners in the implementation of the project. Develop scopes of work for engaging these organizations. Coordinate with other donors and development projects to leverage project resources and to avoid duplication of efforts. Supervise the work of field staff and ensuring coordination among field office teams. This includes designing farmer demonstration plots based on good agricultural practices for each targeted value chain. Show less



ACDI/VOCA

• Blantyre, Malawi

• Agribusiness Training Officer - (Wellness in Agriculture for Life Advancement, USAID funded DFAP)

  • Jan 2010 - Jan 2011

  ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organisation that delivers technical and management assistance in agribusiness, financial services, enterprise development, community development and food security in developing countries. In Malawi ACDI/VOCA was partnering with WALA (Wellness in Agriculture for Life Advancement) project, a USAID funded project being implemented by 8 consortium NGOs. Responsibilities: Training program staff to understand and be able to implement the Value Chain approach in their respective NGOs. Developing capacity of the implementing partners to engage participating farmer groups select value chains of their choice based on the agreed criteria as provided by the project. Assisting local farmers’ groups achieve economies of scale through collective action on inputs, production, marketing and access to services from value chain actors. Developing strategies that implementing partners could follow to improve capacity of farmers to manage value chains or integrate chain activities. Assisting implementing partners enter into contractual agreements based on forward sales that helped to lock in buyers over a long time at advantageous rates. Conducted a pigeon peas value chain analysis, determine gaps and develop strategies for implementation to improve the pigeon peas sub sector. Facilitating market linkages between smallholder farmers from the 8 implementing partners to the commodity buyers and processors. Was responsible for supervising and following up on the agreed plans of action from the monthly Technical Work Groups, comprised of technical staff from implementing partners, to ensure that agreed plans of actions are being implemented. Ensuring linkages with service providers e.g. seed producers, agro-chemical suppliers, extension service providers and financial service providers to increase the competitiveness of the selected value chains. Show less



CNFA/RUMARK

• Blantyre, Malawi

• Agriculture Services Coordinator

  • Nov 2007 - Jan 2010

  Providing leadership, guidance, and overall direction on the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Agricultural and Business activities of the Malawi Agrodealer Strengthening Program in the Southern Region of Malawi. Specifically my roles were as follows: Implementing Agricultural technology transfer activities with smallholder farmers to build their capacity for increased productivity. Creation of demand for improved Agricultural inputs and technologies through on-farm demonstrations to boost smallholder farmers’ adoption of newly released improved agricultural inputs and technologies. Coordinating technical capacity building for farmers and Agrodealers about Agricultural inputs and associated technologies. Designing and offering training based on Training Needs Assessment to a network of Agrodealers and lead farmers in the Southern Region. Developing and implementing a strong Agrodealer network that is well linked to Agricultural inputs supplying companies to ensure adequate availability of agricultural inputs to smallholder farmers in the most remote areas of Malawi. Training Agrodealers and smallholder farmers in the area of Business Management and Entrepreneurship skills. Show less



National Association of Smallholder Farmers in Malawi (NASFAM)

• Namwera Associations Development Centre

• Crop Production and Marketing Manager

  • Mar 2000 - Oct 2007

  Conducting Training Needs Assessment in collaboration with the Association committee members and offer training to clubs as required. Coordinating the development and use of mechanisms such as the demonstration plots and field days to promote smallholder farmers acceptance of new technologies and approaches to improving yields and qualities. Identifying and facilitating the acquisition of farm inputs by the smallholder farmers on loan from the lending institution and facilitate its recovery. With Associations Marketing sub committees identifying, designing and implementing appropriate agricultural marketing opportunities. Promoting bulk buying of agricultural inputs and bulk selling of agricultural outputs. Trouble-shooting problems with smallholder farmers in a timely manner to facilitate the solution to problems as they arise with AHL, MRFC and input suppliers. Show less